Chapter 19

His bangs had been hiding it, but I had a vague sense that he was handsome. His nose and mouth were well-defined, and I occasionally caught glimpses of what lay beneath. However, this was the first time I had seen his entire face, and I couldn't help but be overwhelmed, reacting in a strange way.

After all, he had been very considerate on the boat, even hanging a blanket to create a makeshift blind. We had both been careful not to touch on personal matters, so it was the first time I had seen his true face.

I ended up staring at him for too long and wondered if he thought it was strange.

His eyes were a vivid, rare color, like the petals of a noble rose, deeper and more intense than the light pink often described. I found myself smiling at the thought of what kind of gemstone his eyes might be compared to, feeling a bit like a romance novel heroine.

Still, his rare pink eyes, the mole below his left eye, his slightly wavy black hair, and his sweet, well-defined features were in a miraculous balance, creating a perfect beauty.

From his story, it seemed he had once been of noble birth, and with his striking appearance, it wouldn't take much to figure out who he was. However, I knew he didn't want his identity to be discovered, so I deliberately avoided the topic and ended the conversation.

I had already revealed information that could identify my birth family. I was grateful that Fred didn't pry.

Seeing the popularity and struggles of my brothers and Prince Reinold among the young ladies, I felt a bit of sympathy for Fred, thinking he must also find it difficult. "It must be hard to want to hide your face," I thought.

But he seemed to make an effort to be cheerful and even had the presence of mind to joke, "But Riana, you must have also struggled with men pursuing you, right?"

When I answered that I had never had such an experience, he made a very strange face.

I had never even had a boyfriend, and to be honest, I didn't have any close friends. Everyone was kind to me, but I had never experienced pajama parties, going to cafes after school, or sleepovers at resorts. I had always felt a bit out of place, and I wondered if I should have mustered the courage to ask to be included. No, if I had said that, they would have had no choice but to accept me, so this was the right decision.

I remembered Fred's words when he said he had also run away. However, his reasons were completely different. He had been joking, but I immediately understood that he had deliberately made himself the bad guy to consider others.

He had run away because he couldn't take it anymore, unlike me, who had run away on a whim.

That night, I had a dream.

In the dream, I was still Lilianna of the Agget family, striving to gain my family's approval, a shallow goal.

"Tonight, the performers for the Founding Festival will be selected. If I can be one of them, I would like to receive some words of praise from Mother. Even as a birthday present next week would be fine."

In the performers' waiting room, I faced Mother and made this wish. I wanted to excel in this music festival where she was a judge, hoping that perhaps the honor of performing at the prestigious Founding Festival and a birthday celebration might win me some praise.

"Really, Lilianna, music is about enjoying sound. It's not something to do for shallow reasons like wanting praise."

"...I'm sorry, Mother."

I remember feeling a heavy lump in my chest and a coldness in my stomach, realizing I had failed. I won the top prize in the competition that day, but I didn't receive the praise I most wanted. I had a few spots where I felt I could have played better, and those were the ones that were pointed out. No matter how much the other judges praised me, I couldn't manage more than a social smile.

"Lilianna, who usually receives so much praise, wanting even more. It seems she can't be spoiled."

I vaguely remember Mother laughing at a comment after the music festival, where someone praised her for being fair and strict with her own daughter. I overheard her talking to her personal maid, Eda, about how I should not be spoiled.

Returning home, after dinner, I went to the salon to practice the parts I had been criticized for, hoping to improve. But I couldn't interrupt their conversation and stood frozen outside the door.

Her tone was one of exasperation, and I was shocked by the disappointment. I don't remember how Anna, who was there and worried about me, comforted me, or how I made it back to my room that night.

Even knowing that I was watching, I couldn't do anything in the dream.

No, no, everyone is just being strict for my own good.

The scene in the dream melted away, and my feet were swallowed by the floor as I tried to leave the music room. I couldn't move.

Suddenly, I was standing face-to-face with Mother, and Nina, not Eda, was standing beside her.

"Lilianna shouldn't be spoiled, but I can't help but praise you, Nina."

"Oh, thank you, Mother. I'll work hard to replace Lilianna."

They interacted affectionately, showing a mother-daughter bond that I had never experienced. Why did I, who had never been hugged, patted on the head, or told that I was a good daughter, feel the difference between what was said and what the dream-Mother said?

I spent more time with my parents and siblings as a student and teacher than as a family. But I had always thought that they were strict for my own good, that they expected a lot from me. I had tried not to think about it and had looked away.

So why, why, even though I had never been praised no matter how much I achieved, did they spoil Nina?

"It's okay, Onee-sama. I'll be the 'loved sister' in your place."

Nina smiled, the same face that had loomed over me when I woke up from my injury, and I felt a burning anger.

"...Worst wake-up ever."

My back was drenched in sweat, and I felt disgusting. My body was tense, and I was exhausted even though I had just woken up.

It's ridiculous to hurt myself with a dream my own mind created. I wiped away the tears that had run from my temples to my ears and got out of bed.

Fred... is he still sleeping? I couldn't see behind the screen the inn had provided, but I couldn't help but look. The room was dark, and there were no signs of movement, so he must still be asleep. I quietly went to the washroom to tidy up before he woke up, so as not to worry him.

"This is Fred's hometown, right?"

"Yeah, but it's not really a hometown or anything."

We arrived in Lindemen in the afternoon.

Many adventurers and immigrants from other places live here. I could tell from the various races of people passing by. The demand and supply for adventurers are favorable, and the prices are reasonable. The country has a different language, so I see many unfamiliar cultures, but the development of magic tools and technology is roughly on par with the country I used to live in.

It's a thriving provincial city, so the population is large. New faces coming in wouldn't attract much attention. I think that's why Fred chose this place as his base of operations.

My hair had returned to its natural silver, not because it had been dyed and faded, but because I had stopped dyeing it. It's not practical to keep dyeing it if I plan to stay.

It's a rare color, but not unheard of. To avoid drawing attention, I decided to say that my parents were from a snowy country where silver hair is common. Fortunately, I can speak the language fluently.

Fred suggested I think about how to live my new life, and I ended up choosing to become an adventurer, just as I had vaguely considered. It's often said that being an adventurer is an uncertain job, but there are many benefits if you do it steadily, and I chose this path with a purpose.

To rescue Anna, I need to gain the trust and status of a high-ranking adventurer as soon as possible, so I can take on high-level quests.

Of course, a newly registered adventurer has no trust or guarantees. By repeatedly taking and completing quests, I hope to move from a wooden card to a blue or green one, which should allow me to rent a place to live. Once I have a yellow card, I can apply for residency, which is a common rule in this country's adventurer guilds.

By the time I have a black iron card, I should have the trust to take on cross-country quests. I have enough money, but I know that a "suddenly appearing, wealthy, unknown girl" wouldn't get her request accepted.

I started my new life here, as Fred's relative. I am deeply grateful to Fred, who laughed and lied with me, becoming my guarantor. If I cause any trouble, it will reflect badly on Fred, who is my "cousin."

I have no intention of causing trouble, but I will be more careful as I followed Fred into the adventurer guild of Lindemen.

I am Riana, a slightly naive fifteen-year-old who has come to a big city to live independently, relying on my relative Fred. I repeated Riana's profile in my head, trying to stay true to my real self. I hope my new life will be wonderful.